Kyle and Kahu also went to their aid, helping the group stabilise Jock until paramedics arrived.

St John paramedic Gary Story, who attended the scene, praised the boys for their efforts. He said they did everything right.

He recalls their determination to "bash" through gorse while directing him to the scene. He instructed them to help carry $30,000 to $40,000 worth of life-saving equipment, warning them not to get it wet.

"Those guys [were] in shorts and bare feet [walking] through bush and gorse - it was amazing."

He said there was no doubt the boys deserved their awards.

"I only have the highest praise for those boys. They were faced with a terrifying ordeal. To see a mate injured in such a way is not easy. It's you guys that make my job easy, by doing what you did."

He said they had done everything they could for their mate, which had resulted from a "bunch of boys doing what boys should be doing - out having fun".

Jock's mum, Stephanie, said throughout his recovery, his doctor's notes made it "quite clear" that his mates saved his life.

"There's a lot of people I owe, big time," Jock said. "You did a fantastic job at getting me out of a very difficult area."

He also thanked the many people who visited him during his three months in hospital, particularly his family.